It's Getting Hot in Here

Finally, people are beginning to read this blog. Hopefully by word of mouth the numbers will increase and more people will read, and if you do, please leave comments! Nice to see G2S make an appearance on the comments board, where have you been all this time? Look out for the blog about you coming some time next week. I'm thinking of developing a system for this blog: Mondays and Thursdays will be more personal subjects whereas Tuesdays and Wednesdays will be the random thought days and Friday will be brief because it's a half-day (for more information read my blog titled "Half-day Friday" - my wife's favourite blog)!!

No new football issues to bore you with, so I'll talk about todays topic. At the risk of sounding really sad, I was listening to Radio 5Live on my way home yesterday and the Drivetime show was being presented from Mumbai, India. It was focusing on climate change and global warming. Unsurprisingly the average Indian did not have a clue about the problems regarding global warming and for millions living in shanty towns, their main concern was how to continue staying alive and nothing much else.

The main issue seems to be the idea of carbon dioxide emissions contributing to the greenhouse effect leading to rises in the Earth's temperature, hence causing climate change. As a result the focus is on attempting to cut down on carbon dioxide emissions. Other gases also contribute, but carbon dioxide is the most abundant, simply because it is the main by-product of fule consumption. Scientists are now claiming that such is the extent of climate change, that the Earth will be suffering from increasing droughts, floods and extreme weather conditions.

Understandably this has caused a lot of concern. Human activities are believed to have played a major role in causing the changes we are now experiencing. For example, last month was the hottest ever September on record in the UK and this summer has been one the hottest ever recorded, with July recording the hottest day ever. The consequences have already manifested in a number of ways including our roads melting in the heat and drought orders being requested across the country.

Obviously something needs to be done and various guidelines, laws and protocols have come to pass which focus on these issues, attempting to cut down on emissions of greenhouse gases, mostly carbon dioxide. The most famous is the Kyoto Protocol, which has defined the targets that need to be reached, with regard to levels of emission of these gases, by industrial countries across the world. Guess which large industrial country has failed to agree to the protocol? America! (It's not even a guess).

The USA claims that until countries such as China, India and Mexico also agree to cut down their emissions, there is no need for them to do so. India has the a population of over a billion people in a land one third the size of America. It is a rapidly develpoing country and needs the consumption of fossil fuels to prosper. Obviously it is a very polluted country and is chucking out large quantities of carbon dioxide, but it has no choice. When the UK and USA were developing in the 18th/19th centuries, they too needed to create energy from the consumption of fuel and hence emitted large quantities of carbon dioxide, but now they are trying to limit other countries from doing the same.

As I type, leading ministers of industrial countries are meeting in Mexico to discuss climate change. The developing world is just not interested. In their eyes, why should they be the ones who make changes, when they see people of the UK and America enjoying lavish lifestyles, driving large SUVs and generating tonnes of waste. The presenter on the show yesterday stated that Texas produces more carbon dioxide than the whole of the UK. The show, also interviewed Mexicans at the location of the meeting who just wanted to enjoy the same life as the Americans, they didn't care about climate change, and rightly so. Why should the developing world have to pay for the damages caused by the developed world?

Naturally it is not as simple as that. Countries like the UK and USA need to realise that the developing world is not going to change anytime soon and will continue to pollute just to survive. This needs to be compensated by changes made to our lifestyles in the developed world and these changes need to be enforced. Such is the arrogance of the USA, they will not even acknowledge that changes need to be made - the Bush administration, point blank, refuses to enforce any emission policies. Instead it is left to individual states to govern themselves. For example, Arnold Schwarzenegger (ARNIE!!), governor of California, is attempting to set legislation in California looking to cut down on carbon dioxide emissions and setting vigourous targets, which puts him at odds with the President

This arrogance is overwhelming. Something needs to be done and fast. The Earth is deteriorating before our very eyes. Call me pessimistic but sometimes I think it is all happening for a reason. I believe that God is observing us destroy the Earth, and there will come a time when mankind will be unable to exist on this planet, simply because there will no longer be the resources to do so. Our destruction of Earth will bring about the end of the world (how Hollywood like - infact maybe The Day After Tomorrow might not be so unrealisitc!) and that would be it. God would then, on the Day of Judgement, start by mentioning how he provided a planet with infinite resources which we managed to use up in only a few thousand years.

As individuals we all have a role to play, and we must try to do our bit. I am as guilty as anyone. I drive a fast car which probably emits loads of carbon dioxide (well at least my road tax bill says it does) and that does contribute to the environment, but I do not like how all the focus appears to be on cars and air travel. A culture is developing where it's cool to drive hybrid cars and by doing so you are saving the world! Absoulute bull****! What about the hundred thousands, even millions, of pounds being wasted in faulty factories, poor production lines and dodgy dealings? Surely the money being wasted needs to be looked at, cut down and then re-invested into methods which will assist in decreasing the damage to the environment. It is too easy to just tax people more for driving bigger cars or going on long haul flights, the bigger picture needs to be looked at.

The Quran is clear about our role on Earth. It states that the "servants of Allah, Most Gracious, are those who walk on the earth in humility." (Quran Surah 25, Verse 63). God also states that "mischief has appeared on the land and sea, because of (the need) that the hands of man have earned, that (Allah) may give them a taste of some of their deeds: in order that they may turn back (from evil).” (Quran Surah 30, Verse 41), cleary admonishing people who cause damage on this Earth. God goes on to say that "greater indeed than the creation of man is the creation of the heavens and the earth." (Quran Surah 40, Verse 57), compelling muslims to respect and revere the environment.

God had in his infinite wisdom and mercy provided us all with a land of vast resources. These very resources allow us to maintain a good quality of life, but we are going beyond our means and steadily destroying this Earth. Perhaps the world will end when the resources on this Earth run out, but it is our duty to ensure we delay that for as long as possible, so that we can say that we did the best we could to keep the planet alive. With current attitudes being the way they are, I just don't see that happening.

I possibly should've focused on our personal duties and what we should be doing as individuals, but I wanted to speak about the role our governments and the role the developed world plays in trying to improve the current situation. But, it is miserably failing, no-one wants to take responsibility because no-one wants to compromise or change their way of life. What difference can one person make, even one community? Not much, it's needs nations as a whole to try and make a difference. We all live on the same planet, there is no where else to go. Changes need to be made and fast to ensure this planet survives far and beyond current predictions.

Take care all,
Thoughts just flow, when do they have to make sense?